WHAT WE KNOW:

•Seven law enforcement officers have been shot at a home in Florence, South Carolina

•One city police officer has died

•Officers are from two divisions — city police and Florence County Sheriff’s Office

•Suspect surrendered to police and is being treated in hospital

•There’s been at least 274 mass shootings in the US this year

ONE police officer has been confirmed dead after seven others were shot during a stand-off at a home in South Carolina.

Police responding to the shooting tragedy at Florence have tearfully explained what happened to their slain colleague, who was shot while serving a warrant at the home.

Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler told a press conference the unnamed officer was a dear friend.

“Today we lost a friend of mine, an officer I’ve known for 30 years,” he said.

“We lost the bravest police officer we have known.”

Major Mike Nunn of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office said about 4pm (local time) officers tried to serve a search warrant at a home on Hoffmeyere Rd, Florence when the suspect opened fire on officers.

He said the suspect then continued to fire on assisting officers as they arrived at the scene. The suspect barricaded himself inside the home with children inside.

The children are now safe and the suspect is in custody receiving treatment in hospital after surrendering during negotiations.

Major Nunn described the incident as a “difficult day for us.”

Another sheriff at the press conference cried as he said: “this information has hit home.”

“Officers put their life on the line every day, you never know when you leave home if you’re gonna return,” he said.

Chief Heidler urged the community to pray for the injured officers: “They were responding to a scene where they knew their brothers and sisters were in need.”

Police claim the assisting officers were unaware of the firepower the suspect had and had arrived at the scene assuming it was a random search warrant.

Two officers injured in the shooting are said to be “touch and go”.

‘SUSPECT STILL FIRING, USE PRECAUTION’
Police audio recorded first responders calling in the incident, warning assisting officers ahead of arrival.

On the call a responder is heard saying: “Officer down at this time. The suspect was still firing. Use precaution.”

Earlier Florence County Sheriff’s Office confirmed three county deputies and two city officers had been shot at the Vintage Place subdivision, off Hoffmeyer Rd, Florence.

A county coroner confirmed one city police officer had died.

Some of the officers were being treated in McLeod Regional Medical Centre.

Caronlinas Hospital System was also in lockdown in response to the incident.

At the time of the shooting the Florence County emergency management described it as “high priority”.

“We are advising everyone to stay away from this area. We have Sheriff Officers along with City PD and other first responders handling this situation,” they stated.

At least 100 law enforcement officers reportedly responded to the area in the aftermath. Video shared by WPDE showed multiple emergency vehicles rushing to the scene.

One high school in the area, West Florence High School, confirmed it had done into lockdown during the chaos.

President Donald Trump tweeted he was “forever grateful for what our law enforcement officers do.”

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has called the incident “simply devastating news”.

“The selfless acts of bravery from the men and women in law enforcement is real,” the governor said, “just like the power of prayer is real”.

Florence is located in South Carolina’s northeastern corner. It is home to roughly 37,000 people.

It’s the largest city in the region known as the Pee Dee, an area recently affected by heavy flooding in the wake of Hurricane Florence.

More to come.